June 30, 2015

Summer is here…the birds are chirping, bicycle bells
ringing, and children are squealing…the sounds of summer have finally arrived.
Along with summer come the high temperatures and hopefully some backyard fun!

How can a parent encourage learning and outdoor fun for the
kids? What if you want to keep cool? You’re in luck! There are hundreds of
wonderful activities that combine sensory play and a little science, but we
have narrowed the selection down to a few winners:

1) Ice Boats

This fun and unique activity allows for a cheap way to spend
the day letting the little ones race their ice boats around while they slowly
melt into bright fantastic colors.

Notice a theme? This gem of an activity brings the world of
a laboratory into the safe summer outdoor experience. Using the same method of
the baking soda and vinegar volcano, the magic ice bubbles and stews as the
vinegar hits the surface of the baking soda filled ice.

Not only are they a summer classic, but they can serve as
fine motor practice for the kids! Under-fill the water balloon slightly and
stretch out the base of the balloon and have a water balloon tying lesson. This
activity will increase their fine motor skills as well as reduce the time it
takes to tie all those suckers!!

June 22, 2015

Now-a-days technology has become integrated into every nook
and cranny of the lives of the IGen… that’s the new title for the current
generation of youngsters. I-phones, I-pads, Tablets and gaming devices are in
the hands of most young people today. What are the benefits and what are the
down sides?

Research shows that children who use social media cites
extensively have a shifted perspective on the world around them. They tend to
have less of an internal drive and more of an external drive. For example, they
now ask questions like “how will other people perceive me?” and “how can I make
those perceptions positive?” Some undesirable implications of this can relate
to self-promotion, a decrease in empathy and excessive impression management. To
name a few.

However, don’t throw the mallet through the screen just yet.

Social media cites allow the bonds of friendship to span vast
amounts of space and countless years beyond where they would if the internet
didn’t exist. Social events cycle through news feeds along with the promotion
of things like disease prevention activism and community service opportunities.

Positive implications of all of the above can be healthy
self-expression, closeness with far away family members, increased
participation in charitable activities and increased awareness of social
gatherings & current events. To name a few.

A Kaiser Foundation study shows that the young spanning from
8 – 18 use technology over 7 hours a day on average!* Research shows that this
is an excessive amount of time. Also, it is suggested that parents stay
involved and confirm that their child is making constructive choices and
garnering the positive results listed above.

When it comes to the complex management of “screen time” with
your pre-teens and teens, there are multiple schools of thought regarding the
fine point details. However, what every researcher can agree on is that what’s
needed is BALANCE.

June 8, 2015

There’s common knowledge
circulating through the vast network of parents that support the idea that play
is an essential part of a child’s development. But have we ever stopped to
think about what those benefits actually entail? Studies specifically focusing
on the effect of play in children support the claims that play aids in
developing social skills, complex problem solving skills, and increased
attention in class. “Engaging in play serves a critical role in young
children's social, affective and cognitive development.” (Jeffrey M. Halperin,
Ph.D) This time of imaginative play give the child an opportunity to explore
the recesses of their mind and express it to the world.

Imaginative play doesn't only aid
the child in expressing themselves, it also aids in parent-child relationships.
When a parent chooses to partake in the imaginative world of the child, the
parent is blessed with being able to see what is inside their son or daughter’s
mind. This then allows the parents to guide and suggest what is moral and
immoral in a safe playful atmosphere. So, the next time you see your kid
building a fort out of blankets, or crafting a rocket-ship out of Legos, roll
up your sleeves and dive on in to their world of imagination.

June 2, 2015

Do you remember the first time you
showed your mom or dad how you can tie your shoes all by yourself? There’s a
lot more going on than just a boosted ego for a kid when they are able to tie
their own shoes. Believe it or not, the ability to tie a shoe relates to the
level of fine motor skill a child possesses. But why is that so important?

During the summer it can be tough
to get kids to keep up their fine motor practice when the great out-doors call
their name. However, the need for continual practice proves vital for a child’s
confidence as well as their success in the academic world. Fine motor skills
ranges from the ability to button a shirt, typing on a keyboard, to writing and
drawing. As I’m sure you may know, getting a kid to sit down and write an essay
during the summer is like trying to give a cat a bath. So how can a parent
bring the fun to an essential part in a child’s development? Here are a few
helpful hints: